Collapsible flat rack

ABSTRACT

A collapsible dual deck ( 22, 42 ) platform deck or flat rack container ( 60 ), adapted for vehicle cargo ( 65, 66 ), has dual (40 fit and 45 ft) span capture and handling fittings ( 31, 33 ) upon twin or joint adjustable height corner support post modules ( 70 ), foldable transversely inward to overlie one another at platform deck ( 24 ) ends, with an underlying hinged end gate ( 28 ) upon one post; post modules ( 70 ) feature telescopic rams ( 35 ) with a pulley traveller ( 39 ) carrying a cable lift ( 41 ) to a movable deck ( 42 ).

Collapsible platform deck, or so-called ‘flat rack’, containers adaptedfor carrying (road) vehicles, in particular cars, are known.

Typically the flat rack is some 40 ft long, with a deck capacity for 2or 3 cars in tandem.

Recent developments in containers have allowed an increase instandardised length from 40 ft to 45 ft—and in some countries evenlonger at 58 ft.

Handling devices and transport vehicles for the former 40 ft standardcontainers have hitherto been adapted to carry only 40 ft lengths.

Nowadays, longer 45 ft length spreaders for top lifting and 45 ft spancargo hold cell guides are increasingly common in containerised seagoing cargo vessels or ships, for constraining and guiding 45 ftcontainers.

For compatibility between 40 ft and 45 ft containers, supplementarycapture and handling points, (such as twistlocks upon corner posts), arerequired at 40 ft positions on 45 ft long containers.

This allows 40 ft spreaders, and perhaps 40 ft trailers or rail wagons,to engage capture fittings at 40 ft positions, even though the containerextends each end by another 2 ft.

However, a problem arises in using 40 ft spreaders to handle 45 ftcontainers within 45 ft span cell guides.

Once within a ship, a 45 ft container slides down 45 ft span cellguides, rubbing its corner fittings upon cell guide surfaces.

In this way a 45 ft container can be lowered safely and rapidly downinto a vessel in accurate registration with

-   -   and to sit with its handling and support fittings upon    -   those of an underlying 45 ft container.

For so long as a 40 ft span spreader remains attached to a 45 ftcontainer, accuracy of lateral and longitudinal location is ensuredwithin cell guides.

Once detached from a container, a 40 ft spreader can be raised up a cellguide,albeit is no longer governed by cell guide to container contact.

However, the spreader is moving away from exposed cargo on the deck ofthe container just deposited.

For container pick up, a crane must negotiate the spreader carefullydown between cell guides and accurately register respective 40 ftcapture fittings.

In doing so, the spreader and cargo can come into inadvertent contact,with attendant damage risk.

This is less of a concern for solid roof (eg dry freight) containers,since if capture fittings should fail to register and engage, the roofdeflects and supports the spreader and protects the cargo inside.

An open frame flat rack has no roof, so a 40 ft spreader travelling downbetween cell guides and missing top corner fittings can easily impactexposed cargo.

Some form of cargo protection is thus desirable for a flat rack.

One protection option would be to insist that 45 ft spreaders be used incell guide operation, and indeed this is virtually the norm.

A 45 ft spreader could readily pass down cell guides and locate directlyinto 45 ft capture fittings, such as those located upon corner posts—andsafely pick up the flat rack without cargo damage.

However, 40 ft spreaders are still in use—even on 45 ft cell guidevessels.

For compatibility with existing container fleets, capture and handlingfittings at 40 ft positions must be provided—as land based operations(where there are no cell guides) still use 40 ft spreaders.

STATEMENT(S) OF INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, a flat rack has capture andhandling fittings, such as upon corner posts, at different handlingspans.

A prime example would be capture and handling fittings at both 45 ft and40 ft standard positions.

This allows dual mode handling operation.

Capture and handling fittings could be upon respective support posts orshare a post.

Multiple posts could be grouped in post modules with common extensiondrives, such as hydraulic rams and/or cables.

Flat Rack Collapse Fold

Flat racks are generally collapsible, so that when cargo is unloadedfrom a platform base, end frames and corner posts can be folded downthereupon, in a collapsed compact ‘flat-pack’ (return-empty)configuration.

Such collapsed units can be stacked, one upon another, for economicalstorage and transport.

The container stack shares the footprint of an individual container andstack depth can be contrived to match container depth standards.

Thus, when coupled together (say through their respective capturefittings), the stack contents can be handled together as a unified load.

If corner posts are required at 40 ft and 45 ft positions a total of 8corner posts surmount a common platform deck and all of which be foldeddown—perhaps one on top of the other—adding to folded stack height.

According to another aspect of the invention, a flat rack has handlingcapture fittings upon corner posts, at different capture and handlingspans, such as at both 40 ft and 45 ft standard positions, allconfigured for compact collapse fold upon a base deck, or internestedmultiple deck platforms.

In a particular construction, a flat rack has at one or both ends of arectangular base a multiple (two or more) post structure, each withrespective capture and handling fittings at is upper end, for multiplealternative container handling spans.

Support posts at opposite sides could be pivot mounted for inwardtransverse fold, to overlie one another upon a platform deck.

Support post pivots at different heights, would allow mutual collapsefold overlay.

Support post pivot mountings could be biased by torsion bar springs, tocounterbalance post weight.

On-board hydraulic rams, and cable pulley drive coupling, could effectsupport post extension and suspended deck movement.

Paired telescopic support posts, could be operable by joint ram andcable drive,with respective capture and handling fittings at differentstandard spans

A movable deck, could be carried at or adjacent each corner, by pairedadjustable span support posts, with respective capture and handlingfittings at different spans.

A movable upper deck could be carried by support posts surmounting abase deck.

An end access closure gate could be fitted between paired supportposts,with respective capture and handling fittings at opposite sides ofeach deck end.

A tapered deck end profile could create end ramps for a vehicle cargo,to allow vehicle tilt for compact fit within flat rack deck confines.

Similarly, a hinged trap door in a deck floor intermediate deck endscould allow local tilt of a vehicle cargo disposed with wheelsthereupon.

Multiple capture and handling fittings could be carried by individualsupport posts.

A support post extension ram could be disposed within post confines.

Similarly, a cable suspension could be disposed within support postconfines.

Dual inter-fitting decks could be carried between adjustable spansupport posts,pivotally mounted for inward transverse fold, to allow acompact overall collapse fold with support posts within mutually insetdecks.

A selectively operable deck lock could secure deck position.

A selectively operable collapse fold interlock could be fitted betweeninward folded support posts, gate carried thereby, and underlying deck.

A collapse fold support post and underlying deck interaction could braceresidual corner stub posts and attendant capture and handling fittings.

A movable deck over-travel facility, could facilitate under deckloading.

A movable deck over-travel lock could secure under deck loading access.

Embodiment(s)

There now follows a description of some particular embodiments of theinvention, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanyingdiagrammatic and schematic drawings.

Mix and Match

Various features identified can be ‘mixed and matched’selectively—albeit it is impractical here to set out every feasiblecombination.

FIG. 1 shows a side elevation of a known single (base) platform deck orflat rack of some 40 ft span, with triple tandem vehicle (car) load;

FIG. 2 shows an extended variant of the flat rack of FIG. 1 extended tosome 45 ft span, for location in a containerised cargo vessel cellguides, along with a spreader beam of 40 ft span;

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a collapsible multiple (dual) deckflat rack adapted for vehicle load according to the invention and withboth 40 ft and 45 ft capture and handling fittings;

FIGS. 4A through 4C show sequential loading operation for the dual deckflat rack of FIG. 3;

More specifically:

FIG. 4A shows a movable upper deck lowered upon a base deck betweenerect corner support post modules;

FIG. 4B shows initial car cargo loading of the lowered upper deck;

FIG. 4C shows elevation of the upper deck to allow base deck loading andoptional support post extension to present capture and handling fittingsabove upper deck load height;

FIG. 5 shows a fully loaded flat rack of FIG. 4C with end support postmodules extended to support an overlying container;

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an end elevations of the flat rack of FIGS. 3, 4 and5, with a single full-width end gate hung from one corner post closed;double half-span gates hung from respective posts may be substituted;

More specifically:

FIG. 6 shows a single gate swung open for unobstructed deck end access;

FIG. 7 shows gate closed and coupled between opposite end posts as endbracing;

FIG. 8 shows an end elevation of transverse inward (mutually overlaid)fold of dual (40 ft and 45 ft) span corner support post modules at onedeck end;

FIG. 9 shows an end elevation a stack of collapsed flat racks of FIGS.3, 4 and 5;

FIG. 10 shows a detail of a dual (40fit and 45 ft) span corner end postmodule, with hydraulic ram and cable pulley lift, for the flat rack ofFIGS. 3, 4 and 5;

FIGS. 11 through 14 show views of an engineered flat rack embodyingfeatures of preceding drawings;

More specifically:

FIG. 11 shows a 3D perspective view of a dual deck flat rack, withmovable upper deck carried by corner support post modules (with 40 ftand 45 ft span capture and handling fittings), surmounting a base deckand mounted for inward compact collapse fold;

FIG. 12 shows a side elevation of the flat rack of FIG. 11, with upperdeck elevated from a cable suspension with pulley traveller uponextendible rams in corner post modules;

FIG. 13 shows a plan view of the flat rack of FIGS. 11 and 12; and

FIG. 14 shows an end elevation of the flat rack of FIGS. 11 through 13,with single hinged end gate addressing both upper and base deck access;

Referring to the drawings . . .

FIG. 1 depicts a typical known collapsible container 50 of some 40 ftlength or span, with a platform base deck 10 surmounted at each end by apair of opposed corner posts 12.

Upon each corner post 12 is a top capture and handling fitting 13, suchas a hollow rectangular box with apertures on three outermost sides fora standard so-called ‘twistlock’.

Similarly, a bottom capture and handling fitting 15 is located at eachfour bottom corners of flat rack 50.

FIG. 1 depicts three small cars 16 disposed in tandem upon base deckplatform 10 of flat rack 50.

Overall flat rack 50 height (distance of top fitting 13 above ground) islimited by fixed end support post frames 46.

FIG. 2 depicts a flat rack 18 similar to flat rack 50, but with basedeck stub extensions 17 at each end—taking overall length typically tosome 45 ft or more.

However, support posts 46 remain at a 40 ft span.

Suspended above flat rack 18 is a crane lift spreader 19 with captureand handling fittings (such as twistlocks) 20—to engage top apertures 14of top fittings 13 for capture and lift of flat rack 18.

Should a capture fitting 20 not line up with top aperture 14 of topfitting 13, but sit over to one side, as denoted by 19′ and with capturefitting at 20′, serious contact damage could occur to car 16 roof.

When a 45 ft span flat rack 18 is located in corresponding 45 ft spanvessel cell guides 21, its lateral and longitudinal position isconstrained.

However, a 40 ft span spreaders 9 lowered down inside 45 ft span cellguides 21, can still swing from one side to the other, as denoted bybroken line 19′, and cause damage to a car 16.

If spreader 19 were made, say, 45 ft span, as denoted by broken line19″, and with twistlocks located at 20′, 20″, no cargo 16 damage couldarise, as spreader 19″ would also be constrained by cell guides 21.

Hitherto, neither spreaders nor containers have featured both 40 ft and45 ft span capture fittings 20.

Thus cargo 16 of flat rack 18 is protected from 45 ft spreader 19contact, but not from a 40 ft spreader 19.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the presentinvention, with multiple decks and dual (40 ft and 45 ft) span captureand handling fittings upon respective paired support posts, configuredas collapse fold corner modules 70.

More specifically, a base 22 is configured as a shallow tray oflongitudinal upstanding side rails 23 at each side of an interveningbraced platform deck floor 24 of corrugated sheet steel.

Inboard (bottom) support posts 25 are located at a 40 ft span positionand adjacent outboard (bottom) posts 26 at a 45 ft span position.

Bottom posts 25 and 26 are joined structurally by bridge plates 47, tocreate an integrated corner post module 70 surmounting base 22.

Bottom posts 25 and 26 are pivotally mounted upon base 22 by hinges 29fitted to side rails 23, along with paired torsion bar bias springs **,as detailed in FIGS. 8 and 10.

Bottom posts 25, 26 are configured as hollow (rectangular or circular)box sections, from which telescope respective inboard and outboard upperposts 55, 56 to carry a movable upper deck 42.

Upper posts 55, 56 are capped by respective capture and handling topfittings 31, 33.

A top rail 37 joins fittings 31, 33 and is extended inward by a(spreader impact) guard bar 38.

Paired (or single) end access gates 28 are mounted by hinges 39 uponoutboard bottom posts 26 at opposite deck ends.

Hinges 30 allow gates 28 to rotate through 270 degrees, from a closedposition abutting one another or an opposite post 26, to a folded backopen position (not illustrated) alongside base 22.

Above base deck 24 is a movable upper deck 42 of upstanding longitudinalside rails 49 at opposed sides of braced platform deck floor 43, also ofcorrugated sheet steel.

Upper deck 42 is suspended from wire cable or chains 41 detachablyconnected by removable pins 51 to side rails 49—cable 41 passing overpulley wheels 39 mounted upon inboard upper posts 55.

Pulleys 39 are disposed close to post 55 and top fitting 31 axis, tobring cable 41 close to, or within the confines of, corner support postmodule 70.

As more readily discerned from FIG. 10, the other end of cable 41 issecured to inboard bottom post 25 at anchor pin 53.

A travel limit stop 54 is fitted to one or both bottom posts 25, 26, forupper deck 42 support when cables 41 are released to allow upper post55, 56 extension to present capture fittings 31, 33 above an upper deckload 26, as depicted in FIG. 6.

Limit stop 54 represents a lower limit for upper deck 42 when cargo iscarried upon base deck 22, but is disengaged to allow upper deck 42 tobe lowered upon base deck 22 in a single deck operating mode orpreparatory to overall flat rack collapse.

A removable detent 58 is operable to lock together associated bottom andupper posts 25/55, 26/56.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show upper support post 55, 56 extension, initially tocarry upper deck 42 and then beyond an upper deck load 66.

Operationally, absent any transverse header beams or braces, upper deck42, along with its car load 66, can be carried way above base deck 22.

This provides ample drive-on/off headroom for a base deck car load 65.

Once both decks 22, 42 are loaded, upper deck 42 can be lowered closerto base deck 22, as depicted in FIG. 5.

In this mode, the roofs of tall vehicles 65 on base deck 22 can intrudesomewhat into the under-deck confines of upper deck 42, allowing aclosely internested compact load profile.

Upper deck 42 can be restrained by locks 64, with and cables 41uncoupled by releasing pins 51.

This allows full upper post 55, 56 extension, to present associatedcapture fittings 31, 33 above upper deck car load 66.

In this mode container 60 can be handled by a spreader (not shown) orsupport a corresponding container stacked upon it.

Inter-Post Detents

For security, inter-post detents 58 are engaged between upper posts 55,56 and respective bottom posts 25, 26, as a default load carrying stop,upon failure of support wire 41 or lift ram 35 collapse.

Once raised to a desired position, upper support posts 55, 56 are lockedto respective bottom posts 25, 26 by detents 58, shot throughcorresponding aligned holes therein.

Detents 58 take lifting, racking and stacking loads placed upon capturefittings 31 or 33.

Inter-post detents 58 are desirably configured as flat-faced latch pins,for load spread and to minimise wear or risk of seizure in situ.

Lift Rams

Hydraulic lift rams 35 are located between inboard and outboard bottomsupport posts 25, 26.

Extendible ram pistons 36 lie between upper inboard and outboard supportposts 55, 56 and are secured to bar 37 by a capture pin 34.

Lift rams 35 sit upon a base frame 45 within corner module 70 andoperate selectively—say through a hand pump—upon bar 37 through capturepin 34

Ram 36 retraction or extension moves upper posts 55, 56 and associatedpulley 39, which effectively lengthens or shortens the run of cable 41by double the ram 36 ‘throw’ for rapid deck movement.

U-Shape Deck Profile

Upper and base decks 42, 22 are of complementary ‘U’-shapedcross-sectional profile for a certain inter-fit.

Thus, when fully lowered by cables 41 and retraction of lift rams 35,upper deck 42 can sit or nest within ‘U’ tray profile confines of basedeck 22—as depicted in broken line in the fragmentary end view of FIG.10.

Guard bar 38 inhibits contact of, say, a laterally misaligned 40 ftspreader with upper deck load 66.

Thus either a 40 ft or 45 spreader can be used without risk of loaddamage—unlike, say, the flat rack 18 of FIG. 2.

Post Hinge

A post hinge 29, has a pivot pin 27 axis of horizontal longitudinalorientation, so bottom posts 25 and 26 can fold transversely togethertowards base deck 24.

FIG. 6 shows differential relative height of hinges 29 for bottom posts25, 26 at opposite deck sides.

This allows collapsed posts 25, 26 mutually to overlie one another andsit within the base deck 22 confines when folded transversely inward.

Gate Lock

In order to keep support posts 25, 26 erect under transport and handlingloads, single or multiple end gates 28 are locked together and/or to anopposite post by a spigot 52.

When post and gate are fully collapse folded inward, they are secured toan underlying base deck 24 by a lock 57—creating a stiff bracedstructure.

Stub Posts

Residual upstanding stub posts 67, with respective top capture andhandling fittings 68, protrude beyond the transverse inward foldedsupport posts 25, 26.

This allows mutual stacking—as represented in FIG. 9—without contactdamage to internal fittings.

These stub posts 67 are subjected to severe racking and stacking loadsand are braced by the interlocked post, gate and deck structure.

FIG. 7 depicts end gate(s) 28 swung open through 180 degrees, allowingend access for cargo onto floor 24 of base 22.

Deck floor 44 of upper deck 42 is shown in a raised position, allowing acar 65 to drive in and out underneath any cars 66 upon floor 23.

FIG. 8 shows a corresponding end elevation to FIGS. 6 and 7, but withupper corner support post extensions 55, 56 retracted into respectivebottom corner support posts 25, 26.

End gate 28 is folded back through 270°, to lie alongside longitudinalsides of flat rack 60.

Upper deck 42 has been lowered and its floor surface 44 lies upon basedeck floor 24.

In order to collapse flat rack 22, posts 25 and 26 are counter foldedinward—respectively from left and then from the right as viewed—asindicated by arrows A and B towards floor 24 about pivot pins 27.

Guard bar 38 and top rail 37 can fold easily with the corner posts 25,26 and one or more end gates 28 can fold along therewith to lieunobtrusively within a compact overall collapse folded module 60profile.

A bottom support post for a single end gate 28 is folded first, so gate28 sits underneath both its appended post and an overlying post.

A ramp end profile base deck 24 allows bottom post 25, 25 fold withinthe depth of base side rails 23.

Integrated Support Posts

It is envisaged that discrete posts 25/55, 26/56 might be integrated asa single post.

Capture fittings 31,33 for 45 ft and 40 ft span could be (re-) locatedalong top rail 37 or guard bar 38.

Stack

FIG. 8 is an end elevation of a stack 80 of some five flat-packcollapsed flat racks 60, with respective support posts 25 and 26 foldedinward as described. Overall stack 80 depth generally equates to that ofan erected individual flat rack 60, with top posts 55, 56 retractedwithin respective bottom posts 25, 26.

Flat racks 60 can be inter-coupled through respective adjoining capturefittings 68 to create a unitary stack assembly 80, which can be handledfrom uppermost top fittings 68.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation detail of a cornersupport post module at one end of flat rack 60.

Comer posts 25, 26 are erected and locked in place with one or more endgates 28 locked together, or to opposite posts from which they arehinged.

Posts 55, 56 are raised, along with top rail 37, capture fittings 31, 33and guard rail 38 from a fully retracted position shown in broken line37′.

Pump driven hydraulic ram 35 moves posts 55, 56 up and down within posts25, 26.

A ram piston rod 36 acts through a pin 34 upon top rail 37 to push uptop rail 37 and raise upper structure 60 (of elements 55, 56, 37 and38).

Once raised to a desired height, posts 55,56 can be locked in place bydetent 58 operative on axis 48.

For retraction of upper support posts 55, 56, detent 58 is withdrawn sogravity action retracts ram piston 36, and/or by exhaust pumping of ram35 cylinder.

Raising and lowering of upper support posts 55, 56 has an additionalfunction.

A pulley wheel 39 is mounted upon bar 37 by a bracket 49.

Over the pulley 39 is draped a chain or wire rope 41, pinned at one end** to upper deck 42, and at the other end is secured to post 25 by a pin63.

As upper support posts 55, 56 are raised up and down by ram 35, so wire41 transfers the motion to upper deck 42, from a lowermost position 42′nested within base 22 up to a desired height 42″.

Once at desired height, deck 42 can be pinned in place by a deck lock 64upon post 25—and upon which deck 42 can rest solidly for transport.

Although the flat rack 60 described has telescopic corner support posts55, 56, fixed height corner support posts are also envisaged.

Other embodiments might include a profiled deck 24 surface to maximiseslope of cars 66 placed upon it.

In this case, movable upper deck 42 has a platform infill at the topedge of side rails 43—affording greater headspace to an underlying cargoon base deck 22.

As depicted in FIG. 5, upper deck floor 24 might be replaced, partiallyor overall, by spaced transverse bars 61, locally to capture and supportindividual car 66 wheels.

Rather than being fixed to deck 22, bars 61 might be adjustable, toallow selective local tilt of cars 66 when upper deck 42 is raised clearof base 22.

Built-in rams 35 or pulley wheels 39 and cables or chains 41 are notessential.

Rather, upper deck 42 could be raised and lowered by external orauxiliary means—such as a crane, fork truck or some other speciallyadapted device.

Base deck 22 and indeed also movable upper deck 42 could be ofadjustable (eg telescopic) span.

Thus, say, a 45 ft flat rack could be extended or retracted to someother length.

Whilst 40 ft and 45 ft lengths are widely adopted standards,others canbe accommodated.

Upper deck 42 could be raised to a high level, as a protective cover orroof over lower deck cargo.

End gate(s) 28 could be wholly or partially infilled or panelled, forcargo protection.

Side curtains could hang from guard bars 38 between posts 55, andconnected to bottom side rails 23, for an enclosed cargo space.

One end of deck 42 could be raised before the other, and vehicles 26driven up the slope—requiring less lifting work by rams 35.

Base and upper decks 22, 42 can act together when nested and even lockedtogether as an integrated structure to support larger heavier vehiclesor cargo.

Vehicles wider than (erect) post 15, 16 spacing can be driven between,by canting them out beyond the vertical erect position illustrated.

Indeed posts could be folded outward, say to a horizontal position, foran access width greater than the internal width of base 14.

Deck 42 can be removable.

Deck floors 24, 44 can be of multiple discrete (albeit possibly edgeinterlinked) elements, for individual relative local slope adjustment,more readily to accommodate different car shapes and sizes.

Alternatives of deck end ramps and intermediate trap doors are discussedlater.

Pulley Disposition

The cable transfer pulley is desirably fitted at or close to the pistonram axis centre line.

Post Base Pivot

The post base pivot is also desirably fitted at or close to the postaxis or centre-line.

Taller & Tapered Vehicle Profile

Taller or more upright stance vehicles, such as so-called peoplecarriers or multi-purpose vehicles (MPV's) have a somewhat taperedprofile, from a taller rear (tailgate) end to a shallower front bonnet.

Load height or head space between decks when in their transit positionis generally of even depth—and so may be inadequate for taller vehiclesor inefficiently occupied by such a multiple load profile.

The Applicant's earlier Multi-Deck PCT/GB97/02319 envisaged multipledecks with relative deck portion and attendant load tilt andre-orientation, for denser inter-nesting load packing.

Deck Ramp Ends

Ramp ends of a deck allow end vehicles to sit with one set of (rear)wheels somewhat lower.

This would require end vehicles to be loaded front first from respectiveends, for with decks fully separated to be reversed on from one end.

Deck Trap Door

Similarly, a deck trap door, (such as 69 in FIG. 13 upper deck), couldbe fitted—to allow wheels at a taller (rear) vehicle end to sit lower inthe deck and bring the roof contour into greater conformity withavailable load height.

This includes vertical between deck load space.

Component List

-   10 platform base-   12 corner posts-   13 top capture+handling fitting-   14 top apertures-   15 bottom capture fitting-   16 car cargo load-   18 flat rack-   19, 19′ crane lift spreader-   20, 20′ capture fitting (spreader 19)-   21 cell guides-   22 base-   23 longitudinal side rails-   24 platform deck floor-   25 (inboard) bottom support post-   26 (outboard) bottom support post-   27 pivot pin-   28 end gate-   29 post hinge-   30 gate hinge-   31 top capture and handling fitting-   33 top capture and handling fitting-   34 capture pin-   35 lift ram-   36 ram piston-   37 bar-   38 guard bar-   39 pulley-   41 wire cable/chain-   42, 42′ (movable) upper deck (+42″)-   43 side rail-   44 deck-   45 ram frame-   46 corner support post end frames-   47 bridge plate-   48 detent (58) axis-   49 pulley bracket-   50 flat rack-   51 removable cable pin-   52 gate spigot lock-   53 cable anchor pin-   54 travel limit stop-   55 (inboard) upper post-   56 (outboard) upper post-   57 gate-post-deck lock-   58 inter-post detent-   59 bias springs-   60 flat rack-   61 deck bars-   62 bar position-   64 (upper) deck lock-   65 (lower deck) car load-   66 (upper deck) car load-   67 stub post-   68 capture+handling fitting-   69 (deck) trap door-   70 corner support post module-   80 stack

1-26. (canceled)
 27. A platform deck or flat rack container, withcapture and handling fittings, disposed at different spans.
 28. A flatrack of claim 27, wherein the capture and handling fittings are groupedby different span standards.
 29. A flat rack of claim 27, withrespective support posts, and attendant capture and handling fittings,at different spans.
 30. A flat rack of claim 27, with multiple supportposts, grouped together in a post module at or adjacent deck ends.
 31. Aflat rack of claim 27, with independently folding support post groups.32. A flat rack of claim 27, with capture and handling fittings at both40 ft and 45 ft span, for conformity with dual handling standards.
 33. Aflat rack of claim 27, with support posts at opposite sides pivotmounted for inward transverse fold, to overlie one another upon aplatform deck.
 34. {Different height post pivots} A flat rack of claim33, with support post pivots at different heights, to allow mutualcollapse fold overlay.
 35. A flat rack of claim 27, with pairedtelescopic support posts, operable by joint ram and cable drive, withrespective capture and handling fittings at different standard spans.36. A flat rack of claim 27, with a movable deck, carried at or adjacenteach corner by paired adjustable span support posts with respectivecapture and handling fittings at different spans.
 37. A flat rack ofclaim 36, with on-board hydraulic rams, and cable pulley drive coupling,for support post extension and suspended deck movement.
 38. A flat rackof claim 27, with a movable upper deck, carried by support postssurmounting a base deck.
 39. A flat rack of claim 27, with a tapereddeck end profile to create end ramps for a vehicle cargo to allowvehicle tilt for compact fit within flat rack deck confines.
 40. A flatrack of claim 27, with a hinged trap door in a deck floor intermediatedeck ends to allow local tilt of a vehicle cargo disposed with wheelsthereupon.
 41. A flat rack of claim 27, with multiple capture andhandling fittings, carried by individual support posts.
 42. A flat rackof claim 29, with a support post extension ram disposed within postconfines.
 43. A flat rack of claim 29, with a cable suspension disposedwithin support post confines.
 44. A flat rack of claim 27, with dualinter-fitting decks carried between adjustable span support postspivotally mounted for inward transverse fold to allow a compact overallcollapse fold with support posts within mutually inset decks.
 45. A flatrack of claim 27, with selectively operable collapse fold interlock,between inward folded support posts, gate carried thereby, andunderlying deck.
 46. A flat rack of claim 38, with movable deckover-travel facility and lock, to facilitate under deck loading.